Accounting-file.



W. E. BURKS.

ACCOUNTING FILE.

APPLICATION FILED mAY22,19x5.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

TE@ STATES @FFUFAQ WILLIAM E, BURKS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

ACCOUNTING-FILE.

Application ledfMay 22, 1915.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM E. BUnKs, a citizen of the United States, residing* at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Accounting-Files, of which the following is a specification.

This invention contemplates an improved le cabinet and relates more particularly to that type of cabinet employing a plurality of drawers especially designed to receive sale slips.

rlhe invention has as its primary object to provide a construction wherein each of the drawers may be withdrawn from the cabinet and then pivotally swungr thereon to assume a substantially vertical position so that sale slips may be readily placed in or removed from the drawers.

The invention has as a further object to provide a construction wherein the drawers will be positively limited in their outward movement within the cabinet and wherein the means employed for pivotally supporting` the drawers will also be adapted to provide a retaining member for the sale slips when the drawers are disposed in normal position within the cabinet.

lThe invention has as a still further object, in this connection, to provide an arrangement wherein a hinge rod will be associated with each of the drawers and adapted to swinging'ly support the drawers when withdrawn from the cabinet and wherein the retaining' members for the drawers will be formed from the said rods.

rlhe invention has as a still further object, in this connection, to provide an arrangement wherein when the drawers are swung' to vertical position, the retaining' members will be caused to assume an inoperative position so that sale slips may be `readily introduced into or removed from the drawers and wherein subsequent movement of the drawers to a horizontal position to be disposed within the cabinet will cause the retaining; members to airain assume an operative position engaging over the inner ends ofthe sale slips.

Other and incidental objects will appear as the description proceeds and in the drawings wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar reference numerals designate correspondingi parts throughout the several views,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 29,829. .u

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of my improved cabinet partly in section with one of the drawers thereof moved to open vertical position,

Fig'. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing' one of the drawers in position within the cabinet,

Fin'. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3h23 of Fig'. 2 and showing the disposition of the sale slip retaining member for each of the drawers when the draw ers are moved to closed position within the cabinet,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the drawer hinge rods and the retaining member formed therefrom,

l? 5 is a fraglnentary perspective view show ing the m-'iuiitiugs of the partitions of the cabinet,

Fig'. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a slightly modilied form of hinge i'od showing' the rod applied to a portion of a drawer' partly broken away to show the mounting of the rod,

Fin'. 7 is a similar view showing' a further modified form of hinge rod.

In carrying' out my invention, I employ a cabinet 10 which includes spaced parallel side walls 11 which are joined at suitable intervals by parallel partitions 12. rlhe side walls 11 and partitions 12 ai'e preferably formed from suitable sheet metal and it will, of course, be understood that the dimensions of the cabinet may be varied as exigency may demand.

The partitions 12, adjacent opposite longitudinal margins thereof are bent laterally 'to define flanges 13 seating' liatly against the side walls 11 of the cabinet to be secured thereto in any suitable manner as bv rivets. l't will be'observed upon reference to Fig. 5 of the drawingsthat the flanges 18 of one partition terminate in spaced parallel relation to the adjacent upper face of the next contiguous partition to define., in connection therewith, longitudinally extending' slots 14 at opposite sides of each partition.

Mounted upon the forward vertical edges of the side walls 11 are butt strips 15 which are also preferably formed of suitable sheet metal. The butt strips 15 are bent upon themselves to embrace the adjacent terminal margins of the side walls 11 and may be riveted or otherwise suitably secured thereto as more particularly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. It will now be noted that the forward edges of the partitions 12 terminate Patented Mai'. 27, 191W?.

in alinement with the inner edges of the butt strips 15. Formed in the said butt strips and arranged in alinement with the slots 14 are a plurality of notches or sockets 1G, the purpose of which will presently appear.

As will be readily understood, each pair of adjacentpartitions 12 of the cabinet define a drawer receiving compartment and mounted in each of said compartments is a drawer, one of which is shown at 17. Since the construction and mounting of all of the drawers of the cabinet is identical, only one will be described.

The drawer 17 is, as will be observed, substantially rectangular in lgeneral contour and includes a bottom wall 18, substantially parallel side walls 19, and front and rear end walls 20 and 21 respectively. Preferably the drawer is formed from suitable sheet metal and is adapted to slide freely within the adjacent compartment of the cabinet, being` received within the said compartment in the manner shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Connected to the drawer 18 adjacent the rear end thereof is a hinge member or rod 22, shown in detail in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The rod 22 is preferably formed from a length of suitable resilient wire bent intermediate its ends to define a substantially U-shaped retaining member 23. From the retaining member 23, the extremities of the wire are bent at substantially right angles to define legs 24 and are then again bent at substantially right angles and in opposite directions, terminating in angularly disposed crank arms or lugs 25. It will now be noted that the arms 25 extend in a direction opposite to the retaining member 23 while the said member is disposed in a plane laterally spaced upon one side of said arms.

ln connecting the hinge rod 22 with the drawer 18,.the side walls 19 of the drawer are formed with suitable openings to freely receive the rod adjacent the extremities thereof. It will be observed that the rod projects laterally upon each side of the drawer with the arms 25 engaging freely within the adjacent slots 14 of the compartment receiving the drawer, the said arms being arranged substantially parallel to the side walls of the drawer. Struck from the bottom wall 18 of the drawer adjacent the rear end wall 21 thereof, are spaced hinge lugs 26 more particularly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The lugs 26 are bent to freely embrace the rod 22 and are arranged upon opposite sides of the legs 24 of the member 23. It is now to be noted that the rear end wall 21 of the drawer is cut away at spaced points to provide notches 27 adapted to freely receive the legs 24 of the retaining member 23 for a purpose which shall presently appear.

Struck from the bottom wall 18 of the drawer adjacentthe forward end wall 20 thereof, is a yieldable clip or tongue 28 havcompartment of the cabinetV 10 in the usual manner. lllhen so moved, the arms 25 of the hinge rod 22 will accordingly slide within the adjacent slots 14 of the said compartment. When the drawer is entirely withdrawn from the cabinet, the arms 25 of the said hinge rod will be moved to engage within the adjacent notches 1G arranged to cooperate with the slots 14 referred to. Then so disposed, the drawer 17 may then be swung upon the hinge rod to assume a substantially vertical open position as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Attention is now directed to the fact that when the drawer 17 is so swung downwardly, the arms 25 of the pivot rod 22 will engage within the adjacent slots 14 to hold the rod stationary, so that the drawer will turn about the rod as a pivotal center.l Consequently, the bottom wall 18 of the drawer will be moved away from the retaining member 23 which member will be caused to assume a position as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, with the legs 24 thereof disposed within the notches 27. 1t will therefore be seen that when the retaining member is so disposed, sale slips may be readily placed within or removed from the drawer 17. In use, it is intended that the outer ends of the sale slips be inserted beneath the tongue 28, while, when the drawer is then subsequently swung to a substantially horizontal position, when it may be again disposed within the cabinet, the retaining member 23 will again be caused to automatically assume its normal position, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, to engage over the inner ends of the said sale slips. Thus, in use, the hinge rod 22 will perform a dual function in that it will not only serve to pivotally support the drawer 17, but will provide a retaining member for the sale slips adapted to be automatically moved from operative to inoperative position or vice-versa, as the drawer 17 is operated to either place sale slips within the drawer or remove the sale slips therefrom.

Attention is now directed to the fact that the arms of the retaining member 23 will normally spread to yieldably urge the arms 25 of the hinge rod 22 in opposite directions to engage within the adjacent slots 14 of the compartment receiving the drawer', this yieldable engagement of the hinge rod with the compartment serving to steady the drawer. in its sliding movement within the cabinet so as to prevent rattling of the parts. As will be noted, upon reference to Fig. l of the drawings, the drawer 17 is swung downwardly upon the hinge rod to the position therein illustrated. lThe retaining niember 23 may then be Ln'asped and downward pressure exerted thereon to move the said retaining member toward the bottom wall 18 of the drawer. Such movement of the retaining member will, as will be clear, cause the arms 25 of the hinge rod to at the same time, be sprung out of engagement within the adjacent notches 16 receiving the said arms, when the drawer may be entirely removed.

Thus, in this manner, I provide an arrangement whereby the drawer may be readily mounted within the cabinet or may as easily be displaced therefrom. Upon the actuation of the retaining member as just above described, the arms 25 of the hinge rod will ride over the upper walls of the adjacent notches 1G to consequently compress vthe arms of the retaining member 23 against the resilient tensimi thereof, so that the hinge rod will be entirely automatic in its operation upon the actuation of the retaining member 23 to effect either the engagement of the drawer with the cabinet or its disengagement therefrom.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings, l have disclosed a slight modification of the invention which relates more particularly to the specific form of hinge rod used. The hinge rod in this modification, designated at 30, is substantially U-shaped in general contour, being provided at the extremities of Vthe arms thereof, with laterally directed terminals 31 which are passed freely through the side walls 19 of the drawer adjacent the rear ends thereof and are adapted to freely engage within the slots 14 of one of the compartments of the cabinet.

It will be observed that the bight portion of the hinge rod is disposed within the drawer and is arranged to swing freely therein either toward or away from the bottom wall 18. The drawer, when this modified form of hinge rod is used, is operated in the manner previously d scribed with reference to the drawer of the preferred form of the invention the terminals 31 of the hinge rod being adapted to engage within the adjacent notches 16 of the butt strips 15 so that the drawer may be swung to a substantially vertical open position. When so disposed, the bight portion of the hinge rod 30 may be manually operated away from the bottom wall 18 of the drawer to free the .inner ends of the sale slips or, on the other hand, may be manually operated to engage the said slips. lt will thus be seen that this modification provides a somewhat simplified and very eiiicient construction.

In Fig. 7 of the drawings, I have disclosed a still. further modilied form of hinge rod, which, as will be observed, is straight and extends freely through the side walls 19 of the drawer with the ends of the said rod disposed to engage within the adjacent slots le of the cabinet. Struck from the bottom wall of the drawer and freely embracing the rod 32, are hinge lugs 33. "it is thought, from the previous description, that the operation of this modified fo 'in of hinge rod will be readily understood and a further description thereof will not, therefore, be given. However, it may be stated that with this form of hinge rod, the drawer may be freely operated to assume its normal position disposed within one of the compartment-s of the cabinet or may be withdrawn from the cabinet to assume a. substantially vertical. open position, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Having thus described my invention, what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. ln a device of the character described, a cabinet including side walls and provided with a conijmrtment, butt strips mounted upon the side walls and notched to provide srclets, a drawer slidalny mounted in the compartment, a combined hinge and article retaining member carried by the drawer with the said retaining me; ber normally disposed in active position within the drawer, and holding elements carried by said member, the drawer being movable within the compartment to engage said elements within sockets for holding the hinge member against turning movement whereby the drawer may be swung about the axis of the hinge member to open position with the said retaining member disposed in inactive relation to the drawer.

2. In a device of the character described, a cabinet having a compartment, a drawer slidably mounted in said compartment, a hinge rod connected to the drawer and engaged-with the cabinet for holding the said rod against rotation, and an article retaining member for the drawer carried by said red and normally disposed in active position within the drawer to extend longitudinally thereof, the drawer being movable to shift the hinge rod to a position whereby the drawer may be swung upon the said rod away from the said member to open position with the retaining member disposed inactive relation to the drawer.

3. lln a device of the chaigacter described, a cabinet having a compartment, a drawer slidably .ioi'snted in said compartment, a hinge member carried by the drawer and provided with an article retaining element for the drawer, and terminal arms carried by said hinge member and engaging the cabinet for holding the said hinge member against rotation with the said retaining member normally disposed within the lines of the drawer, the drawer being shiftable to position the hinge member whereby the dra-ner may be swung to open position thereon with the said retaining member extending without the lines of the drawer.

li. In a device of the character described, a cabinet having a compartment, a drawer slidably mounted in said compartment, and a hinge meml er carried by the drawer, said hingcniember being iormed from a length or' material bent intermediate its ends to define a substantially tl-shaped article retaining member for the drawer and having its extremities bent to define arms engaging the cabinet for vnormally holding the said retaining member in active position within the drawer, the drawer beine* shi'ttable to posif tion said hinge member whereby the drawer may be swung thereon to open position with the said arms holding the hinge member against rotation to dispose the retaining member in inactive relation to the drawer.

5. In a device of the character described, a cabinet having a compartment, a drawer slidably mounted in the compartinent, and a hinge member carried by the drawer and provided with an article retaining element therefor normally disposed in active position within the drawer, the said retaining element including resilient arms normally acting upon the hinge member to provide a yieldable connection between the drawer and the cabinet, the .drawer being shiftable to open position upon the hinge member depending therefrom with the said retaining element disposed in inactive relation to the drawer. I

6. In a device of the character described, a cabinet hai/*ing a compartment and provided with sockets, a drawer slidably mounted in the compartment, and a resilient hinge member carried by the drawer, the drawer being movable within the said compartment to a position with the hinge member yieldably engaging within said sockets whereby the drawer may be swung about the axis of the hinge member to open position.

7. In a device of the character described, a cabinet having side walls and provided with a compartment, butt strips embracing the forward edges oi' the side walls to form protecting members therefor and provided with sockets, a drawer slidably mounted in the compartment, and a hinge member carried by the drawer, the drawer being movable within the compartment to engage the hinge member in said sockets whereby the drawer may be swung about the aXis of the hinge member to open position.

8. In a device of the character described,

` butt strips embracing the forward edges of the side walls and having the inwardly disposed margins thereof notchedto provide sockets arranged opposite the outer ends ot" said slots, a drawer slidably mounted in said compartment, and a'hinge member carried by the drawer and freely engaging in said slots, the drawer being movable in said compartment to engage the hinge member within said sockets whereby the dra-wer may be swung about the axis or' the hinge mem ber to open position.

9. In a device ot' the character described, a cabinet providedY with a compartment, a drawer slidably mounted in said compartment, a hinge rod carried by the drawer and provided with an article retaining member with the said rod engaged with the cabinet for holding the said rod against rotation and normally retaining the said member in active position within the drawer, the drawer being movable to shift the hinge rod to a position whereby the drawer may be swung upon the said rod to open position away from the retaining member with the said member disposed in inactive relation to the drawer.

10. In a device of the character described, a cabinet having Va compartment, a drawer slidably mounted in the compartment, a hinge member carried bythe drawer and provided with an article retaining member with the said hinge member engaged with the cabinet for holding the said rod against rotation and retaining the said member normally in active position within the inner eX- tremity of the drawer, and an article receiving tongue carried by the drawer adjacent its outer extremity and fixed with re'- spect thereto with the said tongue arranged to coperate with the said retaining member, the drawer being shittable to position the hingemember whereby the drawer may be swung to open position thereon awayv from the retaining member with the said retaining member disposed in inactive relation to the drawer.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

IVILLIAM E. BURKS. [13.5.] Witnesses:

Jos. S. GRAY, JOHN E. Bonne.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ljatents,

Washington, D. C. 

